During the visit of the Italian Republic and the Holy See, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano.

The Republic of Macedonia has full support from Italy in its efforts to NATO and the EU accession, and rightfully stands on the position that international law needs to be respected. In the future EU presidency of Italy, the enlargement remains high on the agenda, and the Macedonian state can count on maximum support for infrastructure development and support in other areas as well.

The two presidents discussed the outstanding issues facing the EU, the blockade of Macedonia in the past period and how to find a way to succeed in the efforts to join NATO and the EU.

"As before, we have the overall support and assistance from Italy and it will be our voice during their EU presidency," President Ivanov said.

A joint assessment of the Macedonian and the Italian President is that the political dialogue between the two countries is at the highest level and it is a good basis to deepen cooperation in all areas.

"Not coincidentally my first bilateral visit in the second term is Italy, as the next European Union chair and a great friend of Macedonia. Last year we marked the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and in the years Italy has become Macedonia's fifth trade partner. Italy supports all our endeavors and is a real friend of Macedonia. President Napolitano and I discussed that during their EU presidency, the enlargement will remain high on the agenda," President Ivanov said.

The two presidents discussed the international law in the context of the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruling, stating that Macedonia rightly persists on the generally accepted principles of its respect.

We discussed, President Ivanov said, particularly in the context of the statement he made in Warsaw, saying that the EU is still not Europe and that with the inclusion of the Western Balkans, the EU will finally be able to speak on behalf of whole Europe.

"In that context, our case was mentioned, especially the Judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, because lately there are cases where European leaders are calling for international law, and other cases in which they forget to do so in the case of Macedonia. The Italian President said that international law must be respected, that the international community has an obligation to respect the established standards worldwide, i.e. the international law. Macedonia rightly endures on the generally accepted principles to be respected by every country, because we have taken with Greece mutual obligations with the interim agreement, but Greece does not comply with it, and we filed our case in The Hague, said Ivanov emphasized that the attitude towards the Hague ruling does not guarantee that Greece will respect any future agreement or contract," President Ivanov said.

Macedonia expects support from Italy and in its efforts to join the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, where the Italian state is one of the most important partners. "Above all, it will allow our region infrastructure development and connectivity with other countries in the region. Therefore, Italy's effort is Corridor 8 to be finalized and they will support this process because it is in their interest, too," President Ivanov said.

Macedonia's President in Italy leads the Macedonian state delegation celebrating St. Cyril. The forty-sixth traditional event in honor of St. Cyril, according to President Ivanov, is also a tradition that brings Macedonian and Italian culture closer. The cooperation in the area of education, among other things, will deepen and memorandums of cooperation between Macedonian and Italian universities will be signed during the stay in Italy.